Accolades: Ranked 29th Most Difficult Course in America on Golf Digest’s 2010 ratings. Featured in the book, “Off the Beaten Path”

What to Expect: Rochelle Ranch is named after Curt and Marian Rochelle who were local sheep ranchers that donated the golf course as a gift back to the city they accumulated their wealth in. The course is located just off of I-80 in the high desert landscape common to south central Wyoming. The course features 600+ yard par fives, lengthy par threes, and tips out at nearly 8000 yards. Bunkers are found in the middle of fairways as often as they are on the edges which creates options on how to navigate the wide fairways but can be tiresome for the straight hitter who is used to aiming straight down the middle all the time. It is not always clear what line to take off the tee but a couple times around the track takes care of that issue. Drainage issues plagued the course early on which caused the fairways to not grow in as well as planned, but what the course is mostly known for is the windy conditions. Rawlins is one of the windiest locations in the country, in fact, in January 2011 Rawlins had an average wind speed of 42 mph! One burst of wind that month clocked in at 77 mph while the area normally averages 18-29 mph. So the wide fairways are a must in these conditions and the firm fairways can help gain the extra yards you’ll need at this brutally challenging course. The course is a great addition to this remote location and well worth stopping if you find yourself rolling down I-80 and wanting to tee it up.

By the Numbers

Tees

Par

Yardage

Rating

Slope

Black (Horseshoe)

72

7925

75.9

136

Blue (Antelope)

72

7305

73.0

130

White (Coyote)

72

6615

69.9

124

Red (Spur)

72

6236

68.4

121

Yellow (Brand - Women)

72

5706

70.9

131

Individual Hole Analysis

Signature Hole: 13th Hole – 444 Yard Par 4

Best Par 3: 16th Hole – 250 Yards

Best Par 4: 13th Hole – 444 Yards

Best Par 5: 18th Hole – 575 Yards

Birdie Time: 17th Hole – 433 Yard Par 4

Bogey Beware: 13th Hole – 640 Yard Par 5

University of New Mexico Championship Course

The most historic course in the Land of Enchantment is the famed Championship course at the University of New Mexico. Longtime host of the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate tournament, this Robert 'Red' Lawrence design opened in 1967 and is conveniently located just two miles from the Albuquerque airport. A lengthy 7562 yards from the "Lobo" tees, the Championship course is a stern test that features a 270 yard par three and a 520 yard par four among its challenges. The course rests on the si